Read Online Exposing ELE (ELE Series #3) by Courtney Nuckels, Rebecca Gober - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Courtney Nuckels, Rebecca Gober
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wants to be alone right now,” Tony tells her.
“Okay,” Claire says hesitantly. “We love you, Willow. All of us do. We’re here for you when you’re ready.” I feel her hand’s warmth on my back.
“Thank you,” Tony tells them.
He starts moving again, using his foot to push the door open. He carries me up a few flights of stairs and opens another door. He closes it behind him and then gently places me on the bed.
Instinctively, I curl into myself in the fetal position.
“I’ll let you rest, Willow. I'll be right outside if you need me. Just call for me.” He brushes my hair back.
I don't open my eyes when I say internally, “Please don't leave me.” It’s the only cry for help I can manage right now.
“Never.” He takes off my shoes. He then takes off his and lies down in the bed behind me, pulling me into him. He holds me tight against his chest. “I'm here. You can let it out now.”
With that, the tears let loose again. I allow them to fall. He strokes my hair and holds me tight. He doesn't tell me that it will be okay or that she's in a better place. He just lets me mourn.
I grip Tony’s shirt and ball it into my fists. I feel like if I let him go my world will completely fall apart. My mother… the woman I used to call mommy, is no longer here. Choking sobs bellow from my mouth as I try to get my mind to understand what has happened.
I have flashbacks of all the beautiful memories of my mother and me. Her pushing me on the swing, her laughing as the top of the blender comes off, leaving a ginormous mess in the kitchen. I remember her stroking my hair at bedtime and always being there to tuck me in. I remember sitting in her lap as she would read me story after story telling me that someday my prince would come.
Then something dawns on me… Sebastian! What on earth are we going to tell my baby brother? Is he old enough to understand? The idea of him falling apart makes me grip Tony’s shirt even tighter… like the security blanket I used to own. I don’t think I’ve ever felt this much grief in my life… and I hope I never will again. Not even when we had to leave my mother and Sebastian at the mountain. At least then, I held onto the hope that they were going to be okay. That they were going to make it.
That night I end up falling into a dark and dreamless sleep, holding onto Tony for dear life.
CHAPTER 3 (Crushed)
Nothingness. That's what I feel right now. I guess it's better than anything else is on a day like today.
Claire brought me up a long black dress. She stands behind me, twisting my hair into a bun. She places tiny pieces of baby’s breath she found in the garden sporadically through my hair. I don’t recognize the person staring back at me… that person who looks so haunted. My eyes have become shrunken and hollow, my skin looks pasty white. It's obvious that my body is lacking in sustenance. I haven't eaten since who knows when.
It was only yesterday that my mother died. Out here, they bury the bodies quick. They buried the rest of the lost ones last night and waited till the morning for my mom. You can feel the tension that lies in the air from all the people who have lost their leader.
I look through my peripheral vision at my little brother lying on my bed. I stifle a sob as I remember my dad and me telling Sebastian what happened early this morning. My memory of it is fresh and I can still see his cherub cheeks stained with tears. His little eyes turned bloodshot. His curls stuck to his forehead. He dropped to the floor and screamed if anyone tried to touch him. He exhausted himself so much that he fell asleep in the bed next to me, clenching my mother’s old sweater. Even now, dried tears cling to his face and every now and then, he whimpers “Mommy,” in his sleep.
Claire places the last clip in my hair and gives my arms a tender touch. “Thank you Claire,” I manage to say, although my voice is noticeably hoarse.
“Not a problem,” she
“Okay,” Claire says hesitantly. “We love you, Willow. All of us do. We’re here for you when you’re ready.” I feel her hand’s warmth on my back.
“Thank you,” Tony tells them.
He starts moving again, using his foot to push the door open. He carries me up a few flights of stairs and opens another door. He closes it behind him and then gently places me on the bed.
Instinctively, I curl into myself in the fetal position.
“I’ll let you rest, Willow. I'll be right outside if you need me. Just call for me.” He brushes my hair back.
I don't open my eyes when I say internally, “Please don't leave me.” It’s the only cry for help I can manage right now.
“Never.” He takes off my shoes. He then takes off his and lies down in the bed behind me, pulling me into him. He holds me tight against his chest. “I'm here. You can let it out now.”
With that, the tears let loose again. I allow them to fall. He strokes my hair and holds me tight. He doesn't tell me that it will be okay or that she's in a better place. He just lets me mourn.
I grip Tony’s shirt and ball it into my fists. I feel like if I let him go my world will completely fall apart. My mother… the woman I used to call mommy, is no longer here. Choking sobs bellow from my mouth as I try to get my mind to understand what has happened.
I have flashbacks of all the beautiful memories of my mother and me. Her pushing me on the swing, her laughing as the top of the blender comes off, leaving a ginormous mess in the kitchen. I remember her stroking my hair at bedtime and always being there to tuck me in. I remember sitting in her lap as she would read me story after story telling me that someday my prince would come.
Then something dawns on me… Sebastian! What on earth are we going to tell my baby brother? Is he old enough to understand? The idea of him falling apart makes me grip Tony’s shirt even tighter… like the security blanket I used to own. I don’t think I’ve ever felt this much grief in my life… and I hope I never will again. Not even when we had to leave my mother and Sebastian at the mountain. At least then, I held onto the hope that they were going to be okay. That they were going to make it.
That night I end up falling into a dark and dreamless sleep, holding onto Tony for dear life.
CHAPTER 3 (Crushed)
Nothingness. That's what I feel right now. I guess it's better than anything else is on a day like today.
Claire brought me up a long black dress. She stands behind me, twisting my hair into a bun. She places tiny pieces of baby’s breath she found in the garden sporadically through my hair. I don’t recognize the person staring back at me… that person who looks so haunted. My eyes have become shrunken and hollow, my skin looks pasty white. It's obvious that my body is lacking in sustenance. I haven't eaten since who knows when.
It was only yesterday that my mother died. Out here, they bury the bodies quick. They buried the rest of the lost ones last night and waited till the morning for my mom. You can feel the tension that lies in the air from all the people who have lost their leader.
I look through my peripheral vision at my little brother lying on my bed. I stifle a sob as I remember my dad and me telling Sebastian what happened early this morning. My memory of it is fresh and I can still see his cherub cheeks stained with tears. His little eyes turned bloodshot. His curls stuck to his forehead. He dropped to the floor and screamed if anyone tried to touch him. He exhausted himself so much that he fell asleep in the bed next to me, clenching my mother’s old sweater. Even now, dried tears cling to his face and every now and then, he whimpers “Mommy,” in his sleep.
Claire places the last clip in my hair and gives my arms a tender touch. “Thank you Claire,” I manage to say, although my voice is noticeably hoarse.
“Not a problem,” she
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